Autoblog

Edmunds ranks brand loyalty by vehicle category

Jeffrey N. Ross — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 08:01:00 EST

News flash: trucks are popular in the U.S. and subcompacts aren't. While most of the customer loyalty stats we generally hear about are focused on brands, Inside Line recently did a study tracking how loyal customers are to a particular vehicle segment by tracking which vehicles customers trade in when purchasing a new car.

Not surprisingly, full-size trucks had the most loyal customers with almost two-thirds (61.8 percent) of truck buyers opting for another truck. Vans and minivans round out the top three spots, which makes sense, as vehicles in those segments are generally needed for a specific purpose. Luxury vehicles took up four of the top 10 categories.

On the opposite end, only 15.1 percent of subcompact car buyers return to the segment with midsize and large crossovers finishing off the bottom three of the list. Despite being two of the most popular vehicles on the road, midsize cars were in the middle of the pack and compact crossovers were ranked 18 out of the 22 categories.

One segment we would really like to have seen on this list was hybrids to see if it backed up reports from earlier this year that said hybrid buyers generally don't buy another.

Edmunds ranks brand loyalty by vehicle category originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shocking Study: Researchers find that men and women don't want the same thing (in cars)

Zach Bowman — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Humor

This just in: early reports inform us that water is, in fact, still wet. Also, the clever minds at CNW Market Research have discovered that an individual's personal tastes in a vehicle varies greatly depending on gender and age. Shocking, we know. According to the data, women typically base their purchases on rear visibility, cost, front visibility, remote side mirrors and side air bags, in that order. Well, the last three are tied, but pretty much in that order.

And what about guys? Brace yourself for some life-altering revelations. According to CNW, styling, horsepower, engine design, front visibility and the vehicle's sound system are the top five priorities for men. At least we can agree on that whole 'being able to see out of the front of the car' bit. And, judging from the photo above, perhaps we can all agree that the Shelby Cobra is pretty dang desirable.

Of course, the data does help to refute the notion that women are typically more emotional shoppers than men. Clearly, according to the CNW's data, testosterone is doing nothing to help us guys make well-informed automotive purchases. Why is that? According to AOL Autos, the answer may have plenty to do with guys simply trying to keep up with their friends in terms of, er, displacement. In an unrelated story, the sky may also be blue, researchers have discovered.

[Source: AOL Autos | Image: SI.com]

Shocking Study: Researchers find that men and women don't want the same thing (in cars) originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Survey outlines which qualities motivate new car buyers

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 30 May 2010 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying

So, you've found a car that catches your eye. It's attractive, has the features you want and is priced within your budget. Slam dunk, right? Perhaps, but a recent telephone survey administered by Consumer Reports proves that a number of additional factors can affect the decision to purchase a new car... and we don't mean cup holders.

Among the factors tilting the scales in any particular automaker's favor is brand loyalty, though CR recently found that the desire to purchase another vehicle from the same brand varies widely between men and women as well as by age group. That aside, the most likely attributes to get a buyer to switch brands are higher quality and better fuel economy.

Also important are a lower price, a better safety record and more standard equipment. Of course, we'd like to think comprehensive automotive reviews can sway buyer preference too...

[Source: Consumer Reports | Image: Getty]

Survey outlines which qualities motivate new car buyers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 May 2010 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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POLL: 54% of Americans against Cash for Clunkers, 59% expect GM quality to dip under gov't. ownership

Chris Paukert — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, Chrysler, GM

America's "Cash for Clunkers" bill is on the cusp of being signed by President Obama, but according to a new survey by Rasmussen Reports, a majority of U.S. citizens aren't in favor of the plan.

According to the telephone survey, fully 54% of those queried are against the measure, while 35% are in favor and 12% aren't sure how they feel about it. That's up from a similar survey done last month, in which just 34% were against consumer vouchers for trading in older, less efficient cars and trucks. In fairness, Rasmussen Reports indicates that the change could have been influenced by a change in the wording of the respective surveys (the initial survey did not indicate how much the program might cost the government).

While that news may not perk up the spirits of Capitol Hill, the survey's findings that 17% of those asked say they are "very likely" to purchase a new vehicle this year because of the program (and a further 18% admit they are somewhat likely) ought to cheer up a few members of Congress.

Perhaps most interesting of all is news that many Americans would appear to have little faith in the ability of the government to help General Motors improve its fortunes, with 41% expecting for GM's quality to deteriorate under federal ownership. (Presumably, this leaves 59% of those surveyed that feel otherwise or are undecided). Perhaps more damaging is that the study's findings say that fully 57% of those questioned believe that the government is likely to pass laws and regulations that give Chrysler and General Motors unfair advantages over other automakers that did not receive bailout funds.

Oddly, Rasmussen Reports' findings to not disclose the number of people it surveyed, or any +/- accuracy estimates. Perhaps one has to have a 'premium membership' to get access to that data. In any case, check out the link for more of the study's findings.

[Source: Rasmussen Reports via Instapundit | Image: Matt Cardy/Getty]

POLL: 54% of Americans against Cash for Clunkers, 59% expect GM quality to dip under gov't. ownership originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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V8s losing favor with consumers?

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:25:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Green, Lifestyle

It could be CAFE, it could be gas prices, it could be the everpresent chatter on all things green, it could be that it's just so bloody hot on Earth nowadays, it could be all those folks in California begging for clean air. But according to recent data and a study by Edmunds.com, V8's simply aren't in vogue anymore, with overall uptake among new car buyers dropping four percent over the last two years.

Along with the decline in SUV purchases, those who are still buying SUV's are shunning V8's twice as quickly, with a nine-percent decline over the last two years. Among full-size sedan and coupe buyers, seven-percent fewer checked the "Big V8" box on the options checklist.

The only place V8's aren't sliding down the mountain is in the full-size pickup market, where four-percent more buyers are still going for stump-pulling power. The theory is that "casual" pickup buyers are opting for something less thirsty, leaving more of those folks who actually haul things to buy pickup trucks powered as God intended. But with even full-size pickups feeling the sales pinch, it looks like the march toward 35-MPG has begun.

[Source: Inside Line]

V8s losing favor with consumers? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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